CDT Safety, Ethics & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical principle obligates the dermatology tech to act in the patient's best interest?
- Autonomy
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the duty to actively promote and act in the patient's best interest, not merely to avoid harm.
Question 2: Prion diseases require which reprocessing method because they resist standard sterilization?
- Ethylene oxide gas sterilization
- Glutaraldehyde soaking for 30 minutes
- Autoclave at 134°C for ≥18 minutes using a gravity cycle (Correct answer)
- UV light exposure for 60 minutes
Correct answer: Autoclave at 134°C for ≥18 minutes using a gravity cycle
Prions are resistant to routine sterilization; extended high-temperature autoclave cycles (134°C, ≥18 min) are the recommended decontamination approach for reusable instruments.
Question 3: HIPAA prohibits the dermatology tech from:
- Discussing a patient's condition with the treating physician
- Sharing patient photos on a personal social media account (Correct answer)
- Documenting treatment notes in the electronic health record
- Calling a patient by name in a private treatment room
Correct answer: Sharing patient photos on a personal social media account
Sharing identifiable patient photos on personal social media violates HIPAA's Privacy Rule by disclosing protected health information without authorization.
Question 4: The correct order for donning PPE before a dermatology procedure is:
- Gloves → gown → mask → eye protection
- Gown → mask/respirator → eye protection → gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask → gloves → gown → eye protection
- Eye protection → gloves → gown → mask
Correct answer: Gown → mask/respirator → eye protection → gloves
CDC guidance specifies gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, then gloves to ensure the outer garment is secured before adding other protective items.
Question 5: A sharps container should be replaced when it reaches what fill level?
- 100% full
- 75% full (Correct answer)
- 50% full
- 25% full
Correct answer: 75% full
Sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when they reach 75% capacity to prevent overfilling and needlestick injuries during disposal.
Question 6: Which situation constitutes a REPORTABLE ethical violation for a CDT?
- Declining to discuss a colleague's patient without authorization
- Performing a procedure outside the scope of practice without supervision (Correct answer)
- Using abbreviations in documentation
- Wearing gloves during non-invasive skin assessments
Correct answer: Performing a procedure outside the scope of practice without supervision
Performing procedures outside one's scope of practice without proper supervision is an ethical and legal violation that must be reported to the appropriate authority.
Question 7: The primary purpose of an exposure control plan under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard is to:
- Document employee disciplinary actions
- Eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (Correct answer)
- Track patient infection rates in the facility
- Manage chemical waste disposal procedures
Correct answer: Eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
An exposure control plan's primary purpose is to identify and implement measures that eliminate or minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
CDT Safety, Ethics & Infection Control 3
Which ethical principle obligates the dermatology tech to act in the patient's best interest?